Berthold Leibinger
Encyclopedia
Berthold Leibinger is a German engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is founder of the non-profit foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung
and Associate and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German company Trumpf.
in 1950. He started an apprenticeship as a mechanic at Trumpf and then studied mechanical engineering at the Technische Hochschule Stuttgart. After graduating with a Diplom
he became a development engineer in 1958 at Cincinnati Milling Machines (today: Milacron) in Cincinnati (USA). In 1961 he returned to Germany and to Trumpf to manage the assembly department. In 1968 he developed the first contour nibbling machine tool
with numerical control
. The owner of the company, Christian Trumpf, having no children, named Leibinger as his successor. Leibinger successively took over shares of the company and served as President from 1978 to 2005. On November 18, 2005, he retired from management and became Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Trumpf Group.
technology and machines for laser cutting
.
Berthold Leibinger has been appointed to several important political and economical positions. From 1985 to 1990 he was President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Stuttgart Region
and from 1989 to 1992 he served as President of the German Association of Machinery Manufacturers VDMA. He was a member of the supervisory boards of Deutsche Bank
and BMW
among other companies. From 1999 to 2003 he was Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the chemical company BASF
. Berthold Leibinger was Counselor of the Federal State Government of Baden-Württemberg
from 1994 to 2005.
and also for the Schiller-Nationalmuseum and the Deutsche Literaturarchiv in Marbach am Neckar
. He is also Senator of the German Academy of Science and Engineering.
In 1992 Berthold Leibinger founded the non-profit foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung
. It is dedicated to cultural, scientific, religious and social issues. Since 2000 the foundation biennially awards the international innovation prize Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis
for applied laser
technology. The Berthold Leibinger Zukunftspreis
(engl.: future prize) has honored milestones in research of the application or generation of laser light since 2006.
He received the Bundesverdienstkreuz
Cross of Merit, First class in 2006 and the Great Cross of Merit with star in 2007.
Since 2006 he has worn the Werner-von-Siemens-Ring in recognition of his achievements as an inventor and patron of engineering sciences.
In 2006 he also received the Preis Deutscher Maschinenbau (engl.: Prize for German Machine Tool Engineering) and together with his wife and children the Deutsche Fairness-Preis.
In 2007 he received the Graf-von-Linden-Medaille of the Stuttgart Society for Geography and Ethnology (Gesellschaft für Erd- und Völkerkunde zu Stuttgart) as well as the Maecenas-Ehrung
of AsKI
, the German Association of Independent Cultural Institutions (Arbeitskreis selbständiger Kultur-Institute e. V.)
Berthold Leibinger Stiftung
The German foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung was founded in 1992 by the engineer, entrepreneur and patron Berthold Leibinger in Ditzingen near Stuttgart, Germany. The non-profit foundation is dedicated to cultural, scientific, church related and social issues. The capital stock amounts to 9.9...
and Associate and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German company Trumpf.
His Life
Born in Stuttgart, Berthold Leibinger graduated with AbiturAbitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in 1950. He started an apprenticeship as a mechanic at Trumpf and then studied mechanical engineering at the Technische Hochschule Stuttgart. After graduating with a Diplom
Diplom
A Diplom is an academic degree in the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and a similarly named degree in some other European countries including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Finland , Greece, Hungary, Russia, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Ukraine...
he became a development engineer in 1958 at Cincinnati Milling Machines (today: Milacron) in Cincinnati (USA). In 1961 he returned to Germany and to Trumpf to manage the assembly department. In 1968 he developed the first contour nibbling machine tool
Nibbler
A nibbler is a tool for cutting sheet metal with minimal distortion. One type operates much like a punch and die, with a blade that moves in a linear fashion against a fixed die, removing small bits of metal and leaving a kerf approximately 6 mm wide...
with numerical control
Numerical control
Numerical control refers to the automation of machine tools that are operated by abstractly programmed commands encoded on a storage medium, as opposed to controlled manually via handwheels or levers, or mechanically automated via cams alone...
. The owner of the company, Christian Trumpf, having no children, named Leibinger as his successor. Leibinger successively took over shares of the company and served as President from 1978 to 2005. On November 18, 2005, he retired from management and became Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Trumpf Group.
Entrepreneurial and Engineering Achievements
Under the management of Berthold Leibinger Trumpf became the world’s largest manufacturer of machine tools, in particular due to the consequent combination of mechanics and electronics. Trumpf is also one of the largest manufacturers of industrial laserLaser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
technology and machines for laser cutting
Laser cutting
Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to cut materials, and is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, but is also starting to be used by schools, small businesses and hobbyists. Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high-power laser, by computer, at the...
.
Berthold Leibinger has been appointed to several important political and economical positions. From 1985 to 1990 he was President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Stuttgart Region
Stuttgart Region
Stuttgart Region is a metropolitan area in Germany and consists of the city of Stuttgart and the surrounding districts of Ludwigsburg, Esslingen, Böblingen, Rems-Murr and Göppingen . About 2.7 million inhabitants live in that area...
and from 1989 to 1992 he served as President of the German Association of Machinery Manufacturers VDMA. He was a member of the supervisory boards of Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
and BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
among other companies. From 1999 to 2003 he was Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the chemical company BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
. Berthold Leibinger was Counselor of the Federal State Government of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
from 1994 to 2005.
Cultural and Social Dedication
Berthold Leibinger is a philanthropist with long lasting involvement in German culture. He is personally involved as Chairman of the Board of the Internationale Bachakademie StuttgartInternationale Bachakademie Stuttgart
Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart is a foundation in Stuttgart, founded by Helmuth Rilling in 1981 to foster international concerts and workshops, namely Musikfest Stuttgart, dedicated especially to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in relation to present day composition.-Musikfest...
and also for the Schiller-Nationalmuseum and the Deutsche Literaturarchiv in Marbach am Neckar
Marbach am Neckar
Marbach am Neckar is a town on the river Neckar in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The nearest larger cities are Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart ....
. He is also Senator of the German Academy of Science and Engineering.
In 1992 Berthold Leibinger founded the non-profit foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung
Berthold Leibinger Stiftung
The German foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung was founded in 1992 by the engineer, entrepreneur and patron Berthold Leibinger in Ditzingen near Stuttgart, Germany. The non-profit foundation is dedicated to cultural, scientific, church related and social issues. The capital stock amounts to 9.9...
. It is dedicated to cultural, scientific, religious and social issues. Since 2000 the foundation biennially awards the international innovation prize Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis
Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis
The Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis is an innovation prize for applied laser technology open for participants world wide. It is biennially awarded by the German non-profit foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung for innovations on the application or generation of laser light. In total three...
for applied laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
technology. The Berthold Leibinger Zukunftspreis
Berthold Leibinger Zukunftspreis
The Berthold Leibinger Zukunftspreis is an international award for excellent research on the application or generation of laser light...
(engl.: future prize) has honored milestones in research of the application or generation of laser light since 2006.
Awards
Berthold Leibinger has received a number of decorations for his entrepreneurial and engineering achievements, among them the honorable titles Dr.-Ing. e.h. and Professor of the Universität Stuttgart.He received the Bundesverdienstkreuz
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
Cross of Merit, First class in 2006 and the Great Cross of Merit with star in 2007.
Since 2006 he has worn the Werner-von-Siemens-Ring in recognition of his achievements as an inventor and patron of engineering sciences.
In 2006 he also received the Preis Deutscher Maschinenbau (engl.: Prize for German Machine Tool Engineering) and together with his wife and children the Deutsche Fairness-Preis.
In 2007 he received the Graf-von-Linden-Medaille of the Stuttgart Society for Geography and Ethnology (Gesellschaft für Erd- und Völkerkunde zu Stuttgart) as well as the Maecenas-Ehrung
Maecenas-Ehrung
The Maecenas-Ehrung is a distinction awarded by the German Arbeitskreis selbständiger Kultur-Institute, AsKI. . The distinction is awarded biennially to personalities that have significantly promoted art and culture in Germany...
of AsKI
Aski
* ASKI Sport Hall* ASKI - special accounts for inland payments...
, the German Association of Independent Cultural Institutions (Arbeitskreis selbständiger Kultur-Institute e. V.)